Albert peikert



Patented lune'l3, l899 A. PIEIKERT. BUGGY TOP ATTACHMENT.

(Application filed Apr. {1899.

(No Model.)

z mmms PETERS co. ruo'rau'mm, WASHINGTON n c UNITED STATES PATENT FFIC.

ALBERT PEIKERT, OF BELTON, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR OF TVVO-TIIIRDS TOVETHI A. PERRY AND JAMES S.'MAGUFFEE, OF SAME PLACE.

BUGGY-TOP ATTACHM ENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 626,719, dated June 13, 1899.

Application filed April 5, 1899. Serial No. 711,821. (No model.)

To ail whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALBERT PEIKERT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Belton, in the county of Bell and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Buggy-Top Attachment, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to vehicle-tops; and the object thereof is to provide the top with means whereby the same maybe conveniently raised or lowered without handling the prop or bows and without getting up from the seat.

A further object is to cause the upper horizontal brace of the top to fold or break down- I 5 ward.

To these ends the present invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described,shown in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of an ordinary vehicle-top having the invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing the top in folded position. 2 5 Fig. 3 is a detail longitudinal sectional View through the telescopic joint of one of the braces. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of one end of the shifting rail.

Corresponding parts are designated by like reference characters in all the figures of the drawings.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, 1 designates the bows, and 2 the usual topprop, pivoted upon the outer end of the shift- 5 ing railv 3. This is the usual or common form of folding vehicle-top and is shown to illus--:

trate-the application and operation of the present invention. As the improvements are applied to both sides of the top and are duplicates in construction and arrangement, a

description of but one side will lee-sufficient for a complete understanding of the invention. The shifting rail 3 is j ournaled across the back of the vehicle-seat in any preferred manner and is provided with a squared or angled portion a, adjacent to the inner face of the prop 2. A short arm 5 has one end fitted to this angled portion of the shifting rail, whereby the latter and the arm are rigidly or fixedly connected together. -This arm extends forward a suitable distance, and its outer end is connected with the prop 2 just below its knee-hingeli by means of a brace 7. A telescopic brace 8 extends from the outer end of the arm 5 obliquely upward and forward to the joint 9 of the usual horizontal brace-rod 10. As best shown in Fig. 3, the brace 8 is formedintwo half-round longitudinal sections 11 and 12, respectively, having their fiat faces contiguous and adapted to slide longitudi- 6o nally upon one another. The overlapping end of each section is provided with a band or sleeve 13, slidably embracing the other section, and therebyjoining and guiding the sections in their sliding movement.

To operate the device, a hand-lever 14 is fitted to the shifting rail outside of the vehicle-seat and inward from the adjacent arm 5 and having its outer end bent inward in convenient reach of the hand, whereby the shifting rail may be rocked in its bearings. In folding the top the lever is thrown upward, which rocks the shiftin g rail backward, and thereby throws the arm 5 upward upon the shifting rail as a pivot, and the prop-break- 7 ing brace 7 is simultaneously thrown backward. This action breaks the knee-joint of the prop 2 and folds the same backward upon its pivotal connection with the shifting rail. The sections of the telescopic brace 8 move longitudinally upon themselves, whereby the brace becomes shorter and shorter as the top is folded back. This shortening of the brace is compulsory, as the bows and the brace turn about different centers, as will be understood. Each of the sections of the telescopic brace has a stop-shoulder 15 provided upon one side, opposite the sleeve thereof, and adapted to engage the sleeve of the other sectionto prevent lengthening of the brace 0 when the arm 5 is thrown upward. This holds the horizontal brace 10 in its proper position when the vehicle-top is set up. In raising the top the operation is reversed by throwing the hand-lever downward. By reason of the 5 arm 5 extending forward from the shifting rail and the brace 7 extending from the outer end of this arm to a point near the joint of the top-prop the motion of the operating-handle is applied, through the arm 5 and brace 7, mo

to the prop at a considerable distance from its pivotal center, and thus greatlyincreases the leverage and provides an easy operation of the device. A coiled spring 16 is provided upon the shifting rail and engaging the seat to provide a tension upon the shifting rail and assist in raising. the top, as well as holding it in place when set up.

Changes in the form, proportion, size, and the minor details of construction within the scope of the appended claims maybe resorted to Without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed isl. The combination with a folding vehicletop having a shifting rail which is mounted to rock, of an arm 'rigidly fitted to the shifting'rail and extending forward therefrom, a prop-breaking brace connected to the arm and to the prop below its joint, a telescopic brace connecting the arm with the joint of the upper horizontal brace of the top, and means for rocking the shifting rail, substantially as shown and described.

2. The combination with a folding vehicletop having a shifting rail which is mounted to rock, of an arm rigidly fitted to the shifting rail and extending forward therefrom, a prop-breakin g brace connected to the arm andthe prop below its joint,a telescopic brace connecting the arm with the joint of the upper horizontal brace of the top, the telescopic brace being in two sections and provided with stops whereby the brace is held at a normal length, and means for rocking the shifting rail, substantially as shown and described.

3. The combination with a folding vehicletop having a shifting rail which is mounted to rock, of an arm rigidly fitted to the shifting rail and extending forward therefrom, a prop-breaking brace connected to the arm and the prop below its joint, a telescopic brace formed of two overlapping sections, the overlapping end of each section having a sleeve which embraces the other section, and a stopshoulder provided upon one side opposite the sleeve, said telescopic brace connecting the arm with the joint of the upper horizontal brace of the top and the sleeves being adapted to engage the stop on the other section, whereby the brace is held at a normal length, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ALBERT PEIKERT.

\Vitnesses:

T. R. GATES, C. H. PERRY. 

